Today we’d like to introduce you to Eronica Dew

Eronica, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?

I’m Eronica Dew, the CEO and founder of BES Solutions, Inc. (BESS). My background is in government contracting, proposal management, and proposal writing and I’m passionate about working with others in our community to create effective solutions. I am committed to paying it forward and being the mentor that I wished I had coming up in my career. I want to break down barriers, share my lessons learned, and help others shape the businesses and lives they want to lead.

My journey to entrepreneurship really started well before I actually started BESS.

I served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, including a deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Following my military service, I worked as a federal employee before eventually switching into government contracting, working directly for government clients and later for large defense contractors. As a Program Manager at Lockheed Martin, I managed a $26M Logistics and Communications contract serving Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and became an expert in capture management, proposal management, proposal writing, and win plans, leading numerous proposal teams and securing over $3B in federal government contracts.

Fast forward to 2018. I was winning proposals for these large firms but I couldn’t stop seeing a gap that I knew I could fill. BESS was born out of this strong need for a customer-service-focused firm lean, agile, and adept enough to navigate the complex government landscape. At first it was going to be more of a side hustle but when the pandemic hit, I was home with more time on my hands and I decided to let go of that safety net and fully commit to building BESS.

Since 2020, we’ve won more than $13M in federal contracts, securing these wins as a prime contractor on every single contract during BESS’s start-up years – an extreme rarity for a new firm.

I’m also a wife (married for more than 30 years!) and a mother of five. I’m a member of The BOW Collective, an organization and sisterhood of the Nation’s top 1% of small business owners, and I serve on the Board for the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Prince George’s, among other volunteer work.

Most recently I was honored with the Mirinda Jackson Minority Business of the Year award at the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce 2024 Excellence in Business Awards. This recognition is a testament to my company’s hard work and our dedication to our community and I couldn’t be prouder of this milestone achievement.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

It has definitely not been a smooth road or a clearcut career path.

Growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, I faced significant challenges that shaped my resilience and determination. As a primary student, the government required school integration or busing in an attempt to diversify the racial make-up of schools in the United States by sending students to school districts other than their own. The school integration of Black students with white students was a difficult transition due to the race issues in the United States. The teachers at the new school were neither warm nor welcoming, and I was labeled as having reading disabilities, resulting in my placement in classes for students with learning disabilities. This experience alienated me and destroyed my confidence in learning.

Throughout middle and high school, this lack of confidence persisted. I didn’t strive to be valedictorian because I had internalized the negative perceptions of my abilities. Instead I found solace and a sense of achievement in sports, excelling in cheerleading and track, though my academic struggles often cut these activities short. Despite attending summer school each year, my academic performance remained a challenge.

My journey took a positive turn after high school. Marrying my high school sweetheart, who had joined the United States Air Force, and moving to California with him, opened a new world of possibilities for me. California had a more integrated society than my hometown in Louisville, Kentucky where racial tensions were seen and felt in everyday life. My first job at McDonald’s in 1992 introduced me to a peer enrolled in a Medical Assistant program at the National Education Center. Skeptical at first, I eventually enrolled and graduated at the top of my class in early 1993. This experience as a phlebotomist and medical assistant restored my confidence and sparked my desire for greater accomplishments.

Enlisting in the U.S. Air Force in July 1993 was a pivotal moment in my life, driven by a determination to defy the negative feedback I had received growing up. When I shipped out to basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, in the sweltering summer heat, I was fueled by the voices of those who doubted me. The grueling training regimen, from early morning reveille to intense physical workouts under the scrutiny of drill sergeants, challenged me in every way. After weeks of being torn down and humiliated, the Air Force began to build me back up, instilling in me the values of military customs, discipline, and the mindset of a United States Airman.

Through this transformative process, I discovered my leadership niche. The Air Force mantra of “Integrity First, Service Over Self, and Excellence in All You Do” became the foundation of my leadership style. My approach is direct and to the point, with a strong emphasis on attention to detail and a commitment to excellence.

After 10 years of service in the U.S. Air Force, I made the difficult decision to separate during the height of Operation Enduring Freedom to ensure the stability of our family. As a dual military family, one of us had to choose to separate to care for our five children. Shortly after my deployment to Kuwait in 2002, when my youngest was only six months old and my oldest was four, I chose to leave the service to provide a stable home environment.

When I returned to work full-time, once my youngest child turned two, I moved into government contracting, working directly for government clients and later for large defense contractors. And then, when my youngest child became an adult, I felt ready to jump in fully into entrepreneurship, turning BES Solutions Inc. into the company it is today.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about BES Solutions Inc.?

BES Solutions, Inc. (BESS) is a mission-focused organization, providing complete management support services for corporate clients and federal, state, and local government agencies across the U.S.

Where you see challenges, we see opportunity. Solving problems for our clients – both known issues and those yet undiscovered – is the core of our work. Our work empowers clients to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape through cutting-edge solutions, expert guidance, and unwavering support. We are renowned for breaking down RFP requirements, addressing client concerns, and developing innovative solutions tailored to their unique challenges in public service.

BESS is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Woman-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE). We are headquartered in Prince George’s County, Maryland with a second headquarters in Washington D.C.

BESS was launched with a strong focus on Program Management and this year we expanded our offerings to include four new service areas – Information Technology, Logistics, Facility Management, and Construction.

BESS was recently accepted into the Fall 2024 Cohort of the DC Contractor Incubator, hosted by Emerald Cities Collaborative. This is an incredible opportunity to strengthen our business with Green Professional (GPRO) training in construction management, covering everything from sustainable practices to bidding, vendor selection, bonding, insurance and more.

I’m excited about all of the opportunities ahead and the growth we are anticipating over the next year.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?

Success is never achieved in isolation; it’s built on the support and generosity of others who believe in your vision. One of the most important life lessons I’ve learned is encapsulated in the quote, “Build your relationship map.” Reflecting on my career, I realize how crucial this lesson is, and how much I wish I had embraced it earlier.

Throughout my time in corporate America, I was always focused on the mission. As a young Black woman in a demanding environment, I knew I had to be twice as good as my counterparts to earn the recognition I deserved. I was the type of employee who was “dress right dress”—always detailed, always prepared, and always committed to delivering the best possible results. While others might take time for casual chats, smoke breaks, or socializing around the office, I kept my head down, focused on preparing for meetings, presentations, and deliverables. I didn’t see the value in water cooler talk or networking; to me, it was a distraction from the work that needed to be done.

However, this approach came with unintended consequences. My dedication to my work often led to being labeled as rigid or standoffish. While I was simply trying to be efficient and effective, others perceived me as closed off or uninterested in building relationships. I didn’t realize how much this would impact me until I started BESS.

When I launched my own business, I quickly discovered that having a strong relationship map was just as important as being a hard worker. While I knew a lot of people and had a reputation for being diligent and reliable, I didn’t have the deep, personal connections that are so critical in business. When it was time to call on former colleagues for teaming opportunities, I found that they were more inclined to work with people they liked, knew, and trusted on a personal level—people they had built relationships with over time.

This was a harsh but valuable lesson for me. I realized that building meaningful relationships isn’t just about networking for the sake of it; it’s about creating a foundation of trust and mutual respect. People want to work with those they feel connected to, both professionally and personally. If I had taken more time during my corporate career to engage with colleagues beyond the tasks at hand, to share a conversation over coffee or to attend social events, I might have built a stronger network to support my business later on.

Now, as I continue to grow BES Solutions, I make a conscious effort to build and nurture my relationship map. I understand that success isn’t just about the work you do—it’s also about the relationships you cultivate along the way. This lesson has reshaped my approach to business, teaching me the importance of balancing hard work with meaningful connections.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bessolutionsinc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bessolutions/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BESSolutionsINC/
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bes-solutions-inc/